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Introduction

The document introduces polynomials and their terminology. It defines a polynomial as an algebraic expression with whole numbers as exponents of the variable. The terms of a polynomial are its additive components, with each term having a coefficient. The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent in any of its terms. Polynomials are classified based on the number of terms as monomials (one term), binomials (two terms), or trinomials (three terms). They are also classified based on degree as linear (degree one), quadratic (degree two), or cubic (degree three) polynomials.

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26 views4 pages

Introduction

The document introduces polynomials and their terminology. It defines a polynomial as an algebraic expression with whole numbers as exponents of the variable. The terms of a polynomial are its additive components, with each term having a coefficient. The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent in any of its terms. Polynomials are classified based on the number of terms as monomials (one term), binomials (two terms), or trinomials (three terms). They are also classified based on degree as linear (degree one), quadratic (degree two), or cubic (degree three) polynomials.

Uploaded by

KEERTHISWARAN S
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction

In this chapter, we shall start our study with a particular type of


algebraic expression, called polynomial, and the terminology related to
it. We shall also study the Remainder Theorem and Factor Theorem and
their use in the factorisation of polynomials. In addition to the above,
we shall see some more algebraic identities and their use in
factorisation and in evaluating some given expressions.

Polynomials in One Variable


We use the letters x, y, z, etc. to denote variables. Notice that
2x, 3x, – x, – 1/ 2 x are algebraic expressions. All these expressions are
of the form (a constant) × x. Now suppose we want to write an
expression which is (a constant) × (a variable) and we do not know
what the constant is. In such cases, we write the constant as a, b, c, etc.
So the expression will be ax, say. However, there is a difference
between a letter denoting a constant and a letter denoting a variable.
The values of the constants remain the same throughout a particular
situation, that is, the values of the constants do not change in a given
problem, but the value of a variable can keep changing.
You know that the perimeter of a square is the sum of the
lengths of its four sides. Here, each side is 3 units. So, its perimeter is 4
× 3, i.e., 12 units. What will be the perimeter if each side of the square
is 10 units? The perimeter is 4 × 10, i.e., 40 units. In case the length of
each side is x units, the perimeter is given by 4x units. So, as the length
of the side varies, the perimeter varies.
x2 is an algebraic expression. You are also familiar with other
algebraic expressions like 2x, x2 + 2x, x3 – x3 + 4x + 7. Note that, all the
algebraic expressions we have considered so far have only whole
numbers as the exponents of the variable. Expressions of this form are
called polynomials in one variable. In the examples above, the variable
is x. For instance, x3 – x2 + 4x + 7 is a polynomial in x. Similarly, 3y2 + 5y is
a polynomial in the variable y and t2 + 4 is a polynomial in the variable t.

TERMS

In the polynomial x2 + 2x, the expressions x2 and 2x are called the terms
of the polynomial. Similarly, the polynomial 3y2 + 5y + 7 has three
terms, namely, 3y2 , 5y and 7. Can you write the terms of the
polynomial –x3 + 4x2 + 7x – 2 ? This polynomial has 4 terms, namely, –x3
, 4x2 , 7x and -2.

Coefficient
Each term of a polynomial has a coefficient. So, in –x3 + 4x2 + 7x – 2, the
coefficient of x3 is –1, the coefficient of x2 is 4, the coefficient of x is 7
and –2 is the coefficient of x0 , x0 = 1

zero polynomial
2 is also a polynomial. In fact, 2, –5, 7, etc. are examples of constant
polynomials. The constant polynomial 0 is called the zero polynomial.
This plays a very important role in the collection of all polynomials.
TYPES OF POLYNOMIALS

 Consider the polynomials 2x, 2, 5x3 , –5x2, y and u4 . Polynomials


having only one term are called monomials (‘mono’ means ‘one’).
 x + 1, x2 – x, y30 + 1, u43 – u2. Each of these polynomials has only
two terms. Polynomials having only two terms are called
binomials (‘bi’ means ‘two’).
 Similarly, polynomials having only three terms are called
trinomials (‘tri’ means ‘three’). Some examples of trinomials are p
x + x2 + π, 2 + x – x2 , u + u2 – 2, y4 + y + 5.

degree of the polynomial

In the polynomial 5y6 – 4y2 – 6, the term with the highest power
of y is 5y6 and the exponent of y in this term is 6. We call the
highest power of the variable in a polynomial as the degree of the
polynomial. So, the degree of the polynomial 3x7 – 4x6 + x + 9 is 7
and the degree of the polynomial 5y6 – 4y2 – 6 is 6. The degree of
a non-zero constant polynomial is zero.

TYPES OF DEGREE IN POLYNOMAL

 Now observe the polynomials 4x + 5, 2y, t + 2 and 3 – u. The


degree of each of these polynomials is one. A polynomial of
degree one is called a linear polynomial. any linear polynomial in x
will be of the form ax + b, where a and b are constants and a ≠ 0.
Similarly, ay + b is a linear polynomial in y.

 2x2 + 5, 5x2 + 3x + π, x2 and x2 + 2/ 5 x. A polynomial of degree two


is called a quadratic polynomial. Some examples of a quadratic
polynomial are 5 – y2 , 4y + 5y2 and 6 – y – y2 .If you list a few more
quadratic polynomials, you will find that any quadratic polynomial
in x is of the form ax2 + bx + c, where a ≠ 0 and a, b, c are
constants. Similarly, quadratic polynomial in y will be of the form
ay2 + by + c, provided a ≠ 0 and a, b, c are constants.

 We call a polynomial of degree three a cubic polynomial. Some


examples of a cubic polynomial in x are 4x3 , 2x3 + 1, 5x3 + x2, 6x3 –
x, 6 – x3 , 2x3 + 4x2 + 6x + 7. It can have at most 4 terms. These may
be written in the form ax 3 + bx2 + cx + d, where a ≠ 0 and a, b, c
and d are constants.

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